Archive of Imaging Data is ready for use as part of the Kanta Services

The Joint Municipal Authority for North Karelia Social and Health Services adopted the Kanta Services Archive of Imaging Data at the beginning of September. The first to be archived are radiology examinations such as X-rays. 

Pioneering the digitalisation of health services was a deliberate choice for the authority. 
According to systems designer Eija Käyhkö, the authority wants to promote the adoption of a service that has national significance and do its share to ensure that any decisions made with regard to the Archive are appropriate to the needs of healthcare organisations. 

The authority received funding from the National Institute for Health and Welfare for the adoption of the Archive.

Healthcare organisations are urged to begin preparations for the adoption of the Archive 

Implemented by Kela and the National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Archive of Imaging Data is a Kanta service that stores diagnostic imaging data such as X-rays and MRI scans as well as requests, diagnostic notes and statements concerning the images. 
Affiliation to the Archive requires healthcare organisations to have an information system that has cleared Kanta joint testing and security audits, to use the Patient Data Depository, and to have installed a suitable viewer application. Implementation assistance is provided by the National Institute for Health and Welfare and by Kela’s Kanta Services unit.

The Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa is taking steps to adopt the Archive of Imaging Data. The biggest upswell in new adopters is anticipated for autumn 2019. 

Riitta Konttinen of the National Institute for Health and Welfare says that it is a good idea to begin preparing for the adoption of the Archive right away because otherwise the process may be delayed well into 2020.

What are the benefits for healthcare organisations?

The Archive of Imaging Data makes Kanta-archived images accessible nationwide for both private and public service providers. The images can be viewed only by healthcare professionals and only with the patient’s permission. 

The benefits of the Archive are directly proportional to the number of healthcare organisations that adopt it. The Archive makes the transmission of images between organisations quicker, easier and more secure. The common standards defined for image metadata facilitate the shared use of images and decrease the likelihood of errors. There are plans to store also images that are currently available only in the personal archives of dentists and ophthalmologists.

The National Institute for Health and Welfare and Kela’s Kanta Services unit will continue to develop the Archive further in order to better leverage its potential. They will look at whether the Archive could be used to collect information on cumulative radiation doses that would allow healthcare professionals to make informed decisions about the need for new imaging examinations and track the amount of radiation to which patients are exposed. Work on the technical specification of ECG and visible light tests is also underway. 

Encouraging patient engagement 
Through the My Kanta pages, patients can look up statements that relate to the imaging tests they have undergone, express consent to the release of their medical records, and check which organisations and professionals have accessed their records. The actual images are not displayed to patients. 

The shared use and accessibility of diagnostic images enabled by the Archive also improve patient safety by helping to avoid unnecessary or duplicated tests.

Learn more: 

https://www.kanta.fi/en/professionals/archive-of-imaging-data

More information:

Riitta Konttinen
Development Manager, National Institute for Health and Welfare
tel. 029 524 7178

Eija Käyhkö 
Systems Designer, Joint Municipal Authority for North Karelia Social and Health Services 
eija.kayhko@siunsote.fi

Marja-Leena Höylä
Customer Relations Manager
Kela, Kanta Services
marja-leena.hoyla@kela.fi